NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Communications News Room 460-A
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News@usda.gov Phone: 202-720-9035
World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.usda.gov
Release No. 0187.04
Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
Mary Cressel (202) 690-0547
USDA ANNOUNCES INTERIM FINAL RULE AND PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THE GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2004 - Agriculture Secretary Ann
M. Veneman today announced the release of an interim final
rule to implement the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP),
authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. The GRP helps
landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland,
pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and
provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands.
"This Administration is committed to providing
voluntary conservation programs that promote a healthy
environment. Our nation's grasslands provide significant
ecological benefits and play a key role in environmental
quality," said Veneman. "This program conserves
grasslands and helps maintain viable ranching and farming
operations."
By issuing an interim final rule with request for
public comments, USDA can conduct a program sign-up and
implementation this fiscal year, according to the rule.
USDA will consider all comments received during a 60-day
public comment period in developing a final GRP rule.
USDA announced earlier this year that nearly $70
million in fiscal year 2004 funding is available for the
program ($54.2 million financial assistance and $15.3
million technical assistance).
The interim final rule will be published in the
Federal Register soon, and the public will have 60 days to
comment on the rule. It states that GRP rental agreements
and easements are designed for working agricultural lands
and describes multiple enrollment duration options.
Applications for GRP enrollment can be filed at any time
throughout the year.
Applications will be rated based on ranking and
selection criteria developed in the states following broad
national guidelines. USDA proposes that land eligibility
criteria should focus on preserving the nation's most
critical grassland resources, the native and natural
grasslands and shrublands.
Last year, USDA conducted the first nationwide
sign-up for GRP based on the "Notice of Availability of
Program Funds for the Grassland Reserve Program,"
published in the Federal Register on June 13, 2003. The
notice applied only to fiscal year 2003 funds and the
initial sign-up.
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), Farm Service Agency and Forest Service are
coordinating implementation of GRP.
For more information on GRP and other conservation
programs, contact your local USDA Service Center, listed
in the telephone book under U.S. Department of
Agriculture, or online at http://offices.usda.gov
Additional GRP information is available at
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/grp
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